Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां तु शेषाणि अंगानि परिकल्पयेत् । न्यसेदंगुष्ठमूलादिकनिष्ठाग्रांतमूर्द्ध्वगम् ॥ ८२ ॥

Transliteration

dvābhyāṃ dvābhyāṃ tu śeṣāṇi aṃgāni parikalpayet | nyasedaṃguṣṭhamūlādikaniṣṭhāgrāṃtamūrddhvagam || 82 ||

Translation

Then, using pairs of fingers, one should assign and perform nyāsa upon the remaining limbs. One should place the mantra beginning at the base of the thumb, moving upward, and ending at the tip of the little finger.

Word by Word

• द्वाभ्याम्: by two (with two)
• द्वाभ्याम्: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे/स्त्रीलिङ्गे (त्रिलिङ्ग), तृतीया (करण), द्विवचन; numeral adjective

• द्वाभ्याम्: by two (pairwise)
• द्वाभ्याम्: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे/स्त्रीलिङ्गे (त्रिलिङ्ग), तृतीया (करण), द्विवचन; repetition for distributive sense

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चय-भेदक (particle, contrast/emphasis)

• शेषाणि: the remaining (ones)
• शेषाणि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; adjective used substantively

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• परिकल्पयेत्: should arrange/assign
• परिकल्पयेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस्/न्यस्? → √अस् (धातु) not; correct: √अस् is 'to be'; here from √अस्?; actually 'nyaset' from √अस्?; standard: नि + √अस्?; better: नि + √अस् not; correct dhatu: √अस् (to throw) not; classical 'nyas' is denominative from 'nyāsa'; accepted: √अस् (धातु) with नि (उपसर्ग) in sense 'to place'
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थे 'स्थापन' (to place)

• अङ्गुष्ठ-मूल-आदि-कनिष्ठा-अग्र-अन्त-मूर्ध्व-गम्: extending upward from the base of the thumb up to the tip of the little finger
• अङ्गुष्ठ-मूल-आदि-कनिष्ठा-अग्र-अन्त-मूर्ध्व-गम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः (determinative) qualifying an implied object (e.g., 'nyāsa'); '...-ग' = 'going/extended'

Speaker

Narada (instructing in a technical/ritual procedure within Vedanga-style teaching)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes disciplined mantra-practice: by performing nyāsa (ritual placement), the practitioner sacralizes the body and senses, making them fit instruments for japa and worship.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Though technical, it supports bhakti by teaching correct preparatory ritual (nyāsa) that steadies attention and devotion before mantra-japa and pūjā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical ritual-technical method (nyāsa) associated with mantra application—used alongside śikṣā-style precision and procedural order in worship.